Power fish spear



Nov. 2l, 1950 F. w..1ol-|Nsc Nl POWER FISH sPEAR Filed Feb. 8, 1946 n .n.. .l um

, INVENJ'OR. FRED W VJOHNSON N m Q m: N k.

Patented Nov. 21', 1'95 UNI-TED STATES ATENT oFFi-c-E 'zgssoni -roWE-R FISH srnlnay ries" miem, sam ieeacaiif: Appiieatinretrary s, ieee, 'erialiNa 6461,334- (of. ft2-iii My invention relates to a power fish spear, more particularly for use in` spea'ring" large sh and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a speer ofV this class iniwhich af blank cartridge is automatically detonated when the Spearhead thereof contacts thesh Ifor driving the Spearhead, together with the conriectedcorid through the'sh for securely anchoring-fthe nent-0 the une;

Second; to provide a spear ofthis` class which vna'ybe propelled by'liand into engagement with a;V large'sh without undue effort thiisincreasing tlefaccur'a'cy of pla'cirigzthe spear in contactfwith thef'sh;

Third, to provide al spear' of` this class in'which a conventional blank cartridge is detonated in order' to propel` the Spearhead fromF thespear handle when ai sh i'sf contacted:e by the spear"- head;

Fourth, Ato provide a spear of this clas'sinwhi'ch covertionalexplosive cartridges may be usedl to Vpropel the-Spearhead thereof Fifth, to provide' a spear of this clasSiIi--which the Spearhead thereofu autoniaticallyshifts' to a laterallSiLV disposed` relationship' With the spear'- headshank Whn' the shankV is'retracted whereby maximum area'of the spearheadiopposes retracti'on thereof`v fro'rnthe body of? the `sh`;

USiitl'r; to provide a spear of this class the spearhead shank; isjreciprocally'miintedlin a breech tnbenavling iiring pin mechanism in connection therewith antornatically'releasabl when the' spearhea'd' contacts the' fislijwherebyfthe spearlfieadv` shank is epelled 'from'v the b'ree'chtiib'e by, 'gaseousvv pressure emitted from" the cartridge recessed in the' rear 'end of the' spearhead'slianlr; Sveii'th, t0 prvid af' S'Ia of :this 'CIBSS'Hai/'g novel gas operated cartridge ejeetinmeans'.;

Eighth, rb pfovide a" spear` of this crass in which-the breecntube-is r'eciprocaily`-nonrgt'ea"in a handle connectiontnbe,'wherein the` pin mechanism is carried bythe breech tube andthe handle connection tribe isprovided withwa Sear engaging portion arrange-d to release the sea-r from the firing pin when the breech tube reciprocates inV the -handlercon'nection tube;

Ninth, toprovide a'svpear of this class having a novelivring mechanismy safety and; Ten th,to

provide a-spear of this classfwhich is verysimple 2` characters .of reference thereon forminga part ofthisapplication i-n-which:

Figure 1 i is a fragmentary side elevationalgview of -my powerfish spear; Fig; 2 is an enlarged frag,- mentary sectional View taken fromthe line 2 2 orFig; l;- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken'iromgthe line 3-'3 of Fig. 2; Fig. fi' is a transverse sectionaliviewtaken from the line '1 Ji of Fig. 2; Fig; 5 is a transverse sectionaLview taken fromthe lined-5 of Fig- 2; Fig; 6 is a transverse sectionaliviewtaken from the line @f5 of Fig. 2; Fig; '7' is afragmentary sectional view taken from theline E+-'lof Fig. 1; anel Fig. 8 is` a 4trarisverse sectional View takenA from theline 8-8of Fi g2.

Similar charactersgof referencereer to similar partsand portions throughoutthe several views ofthedra-wings;

The spearshaft-j, Spearhead detentspring 3', breech tubeV 4, handle connetieniu-be 'ne pin: 6, ri r 1 e-'pir1 shaft l; iiiine pin guide 8; Seel' 9;;SafetyJiLsafetv1 datentspring I i, reil pad; i?, Iirine* rias-prins i 3; and the handle i il @Qiitisite the principal-partsfand portions ofmy power fish Speai'@ The Spear shaft l is provided with @cartridge receiving recess la in its real erldyommuhisatiinewithihe enda f' the firing pin Seas Shown best ir 1 f Fieiire2, -of the 'drawine- Iilv'vill be noiedihat the r.ear;er1d of thespea-r ,Siiaii .i positionedin the bore porti on 4a ofthe breech tube Ai. ihend ef. ihebreii' tube. @eine spear Shaft- I isprqyided Wiihaii annular groove portionib l injwhich the resilient detent-portions 4119i the. breeciiiube i 'are engaged AS Shevi inFieurei ofthe. drawiife these deteni p oriioiii 4b are r f* 1.ieife d brine, S1Qiied-p0rti0nic' Q peri at the, forward-end; o f the breechiiib 4:. C Omf municating with' the cartridgeY receiving recess Iain the rear o f therspear shaftl l are angnlarly diseased portale, which Communicate with ierigiiudina-uy dispsed channe1 s |d extending i@aclavasi-lv` inthe and G Oi ihe Spear Shaiifi ai itsexiremiiyf These Channels. d are Shown incrossnsections in FigureB ofthe drawing and areiorind in iheSid'Wa-ll. of ihespear Shiifi I f at the outerside `of the` cartridge receiving recess {o alles shownbest in Figures' 2 andu ofv thedravling; It will be here notedvthatdthe cartridge receivingrcess la is afiring chamber f Qrr Conventional rifle 01? Pistol which may be detonated by theend'vpoftion 6a o fn the ringpin iensaginath primer thereof. The breehiube iis providedwitii-ihe'cariridge engaging face 4C arr-angedjtof s i11:po1i the head of the cartridge in'certain-relationshipfto the cartridge receiving-recess Iafof the spear shaft I lt will be noted that'- the' dimensional dispositionfofthe detents'4h andjthelangula-r groove Ib ofthe spearshaftrlrelative to thel face 4cof-the breech 3 tube 4 controls head Space of the cartridge in the cartridge receiving opening Ial all as shown best in Figure 2 of the drawing. The ring pin ii is provided with a primer detonating end po-rtion 5a reciprocally mounted in the breech tube 4 and communicating with the cartridge receiving recess ia of the spear shaft I. Screw threaded in the rear end of the firing pin 6 is the firing pin shaft 1. This firing pin shaft l is provided with an enlarged head portion 'la at its rear end engageable with the notch portion 9a of the Sear 9 and which is a resilient member secured in connection with the breech tube 4 by means of the screws 9b. These Screws 9b secure the firing pin guide 8 in connection with the breech tube 4 and serve as guides for the safety I which is provided with Slots Illa about the spacers Ib on the outer side of the screws 9b. These spacers 10b are positioned inermediate the safety detent spring II and the Sear 9 maintaining sliding tolerance for the safety l intermediate the detent spring II and the breech tube 4 and sear 9. As shown in Figure of the drawing the slotted portions illu, in the safety member IIJ permit peripheral movel ment of the safety Ill about the outer side of the tube 5. The safety detent spring II as shown in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawings is provided with a detent nib Ila arranged to engage the detent recess portions Ic of the safety member IU for maintaining the same in certain positions. The safety member I0 is provided with a safety lug Ilcl as shown best in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawing which longitudinally engages the shoulder portion 5a. of the slotted portion 5b of the tube 5 when in safety position. The safety lug Id in connection with the safety member I0 is arranged to be positioned in the slotted portion 5c of the tube 5 which is oset from the slotted portion 5b permitting the safety member I0 to travel longitudinally of the tube 5 toward the sear tripping incline 5d which is engageable with the inclined portion 9c at the end of the sear 9 for deiiecting the same out or engagement with the head portion 1a of the firing pin l. The firing pin spring I3 is interposed between the firing pin 6 and the firing pin guide 8 as shown best in Figure 2 of the drawing tending to force the firing pin 6 toward the cartridge receiving recess Ia 'of the spear shaft I. The tube 5 is provided with a slotted portion 5e in which the sear V9 is reciprocally mounted as Shown best in Figure 3 of the drawings. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, the recoil pad I2 is positioned adjacent an integral inwardly extending shoulder 5f of the tube 5. This shoulder 5f is provided with a cutaway portion 5g at its top side through which the notch portion 9a of the Sear 9 passes when cooking the firing pin and compressing the ring pin spring I3. The handle I4 may be any length desired and is connected with the tube 5 as Shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. vThe Spearhead 2 is substantially U shaped and provided with a pointed portion 2a, at its enclosed end which is relatively sharp. In connection with this Spearhead 2 is a laterally disposed axle 2b positioned in the slotted portion I f of the spear shaft at the extended end thereof as shown best in Fig. '7 of the drawings. It will be noted that the axle 2b is reciprocally mounted in the slotted portion I ,f and limited in reciprocal movement by the pin 3a holding the Spearhead detent spring 3, al1 as shown best in Fig. '7 of the drawings. As shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings the enclosed end portion 2c of the Spearhead 2 is positioned within the end of the spear shaft I and the slotted portion I f and is maintained therein by the end 3b of the detent spring 3 in a recess portion 2d of the Spearhead 2. The rear end portions 2e of the Spearhead 2 are beveled and these beveled portions 2e tend to shift the Spearhead 2 laterally when the spear shaft I is retracted and the portions 2e engage flesh of a fish through which the Spearhead 2 has passed, in this manner the axle portion 2b is reciprocated in the slotted portion releasing the enclosed end 2c of the Spearhead 2 Ifrom the notched portion I f permitting the Spearhead to turn crosswise of the spear shaft I on the axle 2b.

The operation of my power fish spear is substantially as follows:

The cartridge is placed in the cartridge receiving recess Ia of the spear shaft I and, this cartridge may be a conventional pistol or rie cartridge employing a blank load which includes a primer and powder. The safety member II] is shifted so that the lug Id is adjacent the slotted portion 5c permitting the same to travel backwardly toward the incline 5d of the tube 5, whereon, the incline portion 9c of the Sear 9 is engageable for releasing the firing pin shaft 1, permitting the firing pin 6 to travel forwardly, in the breach tube 4, to engage the primer of the cartridge in the recess portion Ia of the spear Shaft I. The firing pin B is cocked by forcing the breach tube 4 forwardly and retaining the tube 5 in stationary position. This cooking operation may be accomplished only when the lug portion Illd of the safety member I0 is in the slotted portion 5b as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The shoulder 5f retains the head la, of the firing pin shaft 1, while the firing pin spring I3 is compressed inz termediate the firing pin guide 8 and the firing pin 6. When the breech tube 4 is moved forwardly relatively to the tube 5 the sear 9 is carried with the breech tube 4, whereupon, it snaps over the shoulder portion 'la of the firing pin Shaft l maintaining the ring pin spring in compression. After cooking the firing pin 6 the lug Id, of the safety I0, is automatically in position against the shoulder 5a maintaining the same in safe, cocked position. When the operator is ready to re the spear shaft I out of the breech tube 4, the safety I is shifted so that the lug portion Id rests in the slotted portion 5c. The detent spring II maintains the safety member I0 in adjusted position by means of its engagement with the recesses Ic of the safety member I0. When the spear is held by the handle I4, and 'thrown into engagement with a fish, the Spearhead 2 contacts the fish causing the inertia of the handle to pass forwardly relatively to the breech tube 4 causing the sear incline portion 9c to pass upwardly over the incline 5d, of the tube 5, releasing the notched portion 9a, from the head 1a, of the firing pin shaft l, releasing the firing pin 6 permitting the same to detonate the cartridge in the cartridge receiving recess la, whereupon, explosion occurs and forces the Spear shaft I, together with the Spearhead 2, through the fish which it contacts. When the Spearhead I is limited by a cord passing through the opening Ig thereof and attached to a windlass or the like, the angular portions 2e at the rear end of the Spearhead 2, engages flesh of the fish forcing the Spearhead 2 longitudinally of the slotted portion if, in the shaft I, releasing the detent spring 3 and permitting the incline portions 2e to shift the spearhead clockwise of the shaft l, preventing the same from being pulled backwardly through the sh when restrained by a cord extending through the opening Ig of the shaft I as hereinbefore set forth. The detent portions 4b, in connection with the breech tube 4 in the annular groove lb of the shaft I, maintain the same in position until the cartridge is fired in the recess la which forms a gas chamber for the explosion of the cartridge. Upon explosion of the cartridge gas passes through the ports Ic and backwardly through the channels I d to the rear of the cartridge case, this gaseous operation pressurizes the cartridge at its head portion and expels the same from the breech tube 4 when the spear shaft l passes out of the bore 4a, of the breech tube 4.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to the particularl construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a power iish spear of the class described,

the combination of a Spearhead, a shaft in connection with said Spearhead having a cartridge receiving chamber at its ,rear portion and a breech tube having a bore portion in which the rear end of said shaft is slidably positioned.

2. In a power sh spear of the class described, the combination of a Spearhead, a shaft in connection with said Spearhead having a cartridge receiving chamber at its rear portion, a breech tube having a bore portion in which the rear end of said shaft is slidably positioned and a cartridge firing mechanism in connection with said breech tube.

3. In a power fish spear of the class described, the combination of a Spearhead, a shaft in connection with said Spearhead having a cartridge receiving chamber at its rear portion, a breech tube having a bore portion in which the rear end of said shaft is slidably positioned, a cartridge firing mechanism in connection with said breech tube and a second tube in which said breech tube is reciprocally mounted having trip means operatively engageable with said cartridge firing mechanism for releasing said cartridge ring mechanism when said breech tube is reciprocally moved by inertia in said second tube.

4. In a power sh spear of the class described, the combination of a spear shaft having a spearhead in connection with one end and a cartridge chamber in its opposite end, a breech tube in which the cartridge chamber portion of said spear shaft is reciprocally mounted, a firing pin in said breech tube, a resilient sear in connection with said breech tube and operatively associated with said firing pin, a second tube reciprocally mounted on the outer side of said breech tube and having sear trip portions engageable with said sear when said breech tube is reciprocally operated in said second tube.

5. In a power iish spear of the class described, vthe combination of a Spear shaft having a spearhead in connection with one end and a cartridge chamber in its opposite end, a breech tube in which the cartridge chamber portion of `said spear shaft is reciprocally mounted, a firing pin 6 in said breech tube, a resilient sear' in connection with said breech tube and operatively associated with said firing pin, a second tube reciprocally mounted on the outer side of said breech tube and having sear trip portions engageable with said sear when said breech tube is reciprocally operated in said second tube, said second tube having a shoulder, operatively engageable with said ring pin, for restraining the same when engaging said sear with said firing pin.

6. In a power fish spear of the class described, the combination of a spear shaft having a spearhead in connection with one end and a cartridge chamber in its opposite end, a breech tube in which the cartridge chamber portion of said spear shaft is reciprocally mounted, a firing pin in said breech tube, a resilient sear in connection with said breech tube and operatively associated with said firing pin, a second tube reciprocally mounted on the outer side of said breech tube and having sear trip portions engageable with said sear when said breech tube is reciprocally operated in said second tube, said second tube having a shoulder, operatively engageable with said firing pin, for restraining the same when engaging said sear with said firing pin, a safety member secured in connection with said breech tube, said second tube having offset slotted portions in the side wall thereofin which said safety member is engaged, whereby, said safety member limits the movements of said breech tube in said second tube by engagement with said offset slotted portion, preventing said sear from engaging the trip portions of said second tube.

"1. In a power fish spear of the class described, the combination of a spear shaft having a spearhead on one end and a cartridge chamber in the opposite end, a breech tube having a bore in one end in which the chamber end of said spear shaft is positioned, detent means at the extended end of said breech tube, said spear shaft having annular groove portions engageable with said detent means for maintaining said cartridge chamber in set position in said breech tube.

8. In a power fish spear of the class described, the combination of a. spear shaft having a spearhead in connection with one end and a cartridge receiving chamber in its opposite end, a breech tube in which the cartridge receiving chamber end of said spear shaft is positioned, said spear shaft having ports communicating with said chamber and channel portions at the outer side of said shaft communicating with said ports and extending backwardly to the open end of said chamber.

FRED W. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 9,356 Pierce Aug. 24, 1880 17,370 Grudchos May 26, 1857 385,416 Luscomb et al July 3, 1888 1,052,606 Maxim Feb. 11, 1913 1,344,693 Hinsdale June 29, 1920 K FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,772 Norway Mar. 4, 1903 206,155 Germany Jan. 29, 1909 

